TRENTON -- To end New Jersey 911 fee diversion, legislators from both parties committed to seek a constitutional amendment to guarantee revenue collected for the emergency network goes to that purpose. “Let’s do it,” said Assemblyman Jay Webber (R), agreeing with two Democrats at a Thursday hearing of the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee. The FCC in February identified New Jersey as the nation’s biggest diverter, saying it used about 89 percent ($108.1 million) of the revenue for non-911 purposes in 2016.
The post-incentive auction repacking’s recent cash infusion, construction process and looming phase deadlines are expected to dominate discussions at the NAB Show, which begins Saturday, broadcasters and their legal representatives said in interviews. NAB expects attendance to approach 100,000, a spokesman said. Exhibitions will feature about 1,700 companies, including 244 first-timers, the association said.
Senate Communications Subcommittee member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and other members of the Hawaii congressional delegation during a Thursday field hearing touted a set of bills they say are aimed at addressing issues with the emergency alert system highlighted during a January false alarm about a possible ballistic missile headed for the state (see 1801160054 and 1803160042).
The FCC gave a few tribal-oriented telcos additional USF support for operating costs it said were well above average. The two Democratic commissioners partially dissented and the agency's chief partially concurred, citing changes he made to win OK. The commission Thursday released as expected (see 1804040056) a modified, long-pending order to relax 2016 operating-expense (opex) restrictions on rate-of-return telco high-cost support for carriers primarily serving tribal land. Broadband deployment and competition conditions were added to target the relief to an estimated five providers.
The District of Columbia and 19 other nearby jurisdictions tested the wireless emergency alert system Thursday morning through the Washington Metro Council of Governments (COG). Some didn’t get the alerts, even though they were well within the region. By afternoon, about 12,000 people responded to a survey, D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency acting Director Chris Rodriguez told us. The FCC also seeks some input.
An online sales tax case before the Supreme Court, South Dakota v. Wayfair (see 1803080066), has divided members of Congress and pitted online retailers against more than 40 states. Central to the case is whether online sellers can be required to collect the same sales taxes as local stores. The high court could decide whether to repeal 1992's Quill v. North Dakota decision, which established that sales tax laws were too complicated for retailers to know how much tax to collect unless they were physically present in the customer’s state. Oral argument will be April 17.
TVs imported from China would bear an especially heavy burden under the U.S. Trade Representative’s list of products targeted for 25 percent tariffs under President Donald Trump’s March 22 memorandum accusing the Chinese of unfair intellectual property practices (see 1803220043). CTA President Gary Shapiro called the administration wrong for having “singled out TVs as one of the largest proposed categories for a 25 percent tariff.” He urged "companies and consumers to take action, make their voices heard and tell the administration just how much damage this would do." Other industry players reacted negatively, and China plans to retaliate.
The Maryland House passed a combined net neutrality and ISP privacy bill designed to counter recent actions by national Republicans. The House voted 86-46 on party lines Wednesday to send HB-1654 to the Senate after amending the bill Tuesday to cover government-provided broadband (see 1804030053). If it survives the state's Senate and GOP governor, it would revive FCC privacy rules for ISPs that were repealed by Congress in 2015 and prohibit state contracts with ISPs that violate net neutrality rules like those the commission rescinded in December. In Alaska, industry is arguing against net neutrality mandates.
Commissioner Brendan Carr said Wednesday he's still figuring out what the FCC should propose to address impediments to broadband deployment posed by local and state governments and on siting on federal lands. Carr said the FCC’s job is to get the regulation right while industry has to figure out a business plan. Wireless Infrastructure Association President Jonathan Adelstein worries how carriers will monetize the costs of building 5G. Both spoke at the Wireless Connect event.
A planned Thursday Senate Commerce Committee field hearing on the January false alarm about a possible ballistic missile headed for Hawaii (see 1801160054 and 1803160042) is aimed as much at shaping legislation to address issues with the emergency alert system (EAS) highlighted in the incident as it is at answering lingering questions about the event, lawmakers and others told us. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. at the East-West Center’s Keoni Auditorium in Honolulu.